The town of Scottsdale, Arizona is brimming with art, culture and, of course, the perfect playground for desert exploration. It’s one of those places you can return to again and again for great food, a pedestrian-friendly city center, countless resorts, shopping, and outdoor fun.
Scottsdale is one of my favorite cities in the United States. You can easily make the type of trip that suits your needs: great resorts, delicious food, hiking, and a great art scene.
I wrote a guide to Scottsdale and it’s an amazing journey, but see how you can elevate your trip to the top when it comes to museums and landscapes that have inspired artists.
There are very few cities that offer spa relaxation, hot air balloon rides at sunrise, hiking among giant cactus, and the opportunity to see world-famous art up close.
Talent
Scottsdale is one of the top cities in the United States for the arts with more than 125 professional galleries and art studios, one of the highest per capita cities anywhere in the nation. The entire city is like an art gallery with 120 pieces of public art scattered throughout the city! Guided tours are self-sufficient and include an interactive map to follow scottsdalepublicart.org.
You can walk or drive to see various artworks in the city. Some of my favorites are George-Ann Tognoni’s impressive trio of galloping horses and my personal favorite, Doors and Soundtracks. When you look into it, you’ll see three large and beautiful doors, but when you step inside, especially on a sunny day (Scottsdale has plenty!), you’ll see a kaleidoscope of colors. The sculpture creates the optical illusion of an elevated geodesic dome!
I also like the Bronze horse fountain that features the five Arabian horses, which is important because Scottsdale is the center of Arabian horse breeding in the US. Another note is Knight Rise, on display inside the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. This is one of only 14 skyspaces open to the public in the US!
The Scottsdale Public Art The project was started in 1985 to improve the quality of life for residents and tourists. I think they definitely hit their target!
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West is the perfect museum to start your Scottsdale trip. Here, you will immerse yourself in the art while enjoying history. The museum is a great place to learn about Western history, culture, and art. The museum has exhibits on everything from cowboy life in the 1800s to Native American artifacts. There’s an eclectic mix of art with meaningful art and artifacts, Hoppi pottery, Edward Curtis’ largest collection, and much more since rotating exhibitions.
The museum is actually a Smithsonian Affiliate and has been named “Best Western Museum” by True West magazine for 2021 nationally! The building itself is like a work of art with desert images like cactus and like a piece of textile art.
There is also a Artwalk Every Thursday, where the galleries stay open late and offer wines.
If you choose the right time, you can come to Scottsdale for their annual attendance Canal Convergence, a 10-day public art festival that brings together artists from around the world with large-scale art installations right on the canal. Each year has a different theme! The theme for 2021 is Water + Art + Light and featured art and technology.
There are fire-breathing flowers, lighted waterfalls, interactive doors, an enchanting meadow and “Say what you will“Is an audiovisual installation that uses voice technology to create art through light and video above the Arizona Canal.
The 10-day festival takes place in November and is completely free! Learn more for next year, here.
You can’t mention art in Scottsdale without highlighting the home of Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin West or his student’s workshop, by Paolo Soleri Cosanti. See more in My full guide to Scottsdale is here.
Out side
Much of the desert landscape is an inspiration for many artists. The city is surrounded by mountains and deserts, with McDowell Sonoran Sanctuary offers more than 30 miles of trails through rolling hills, canyons, caves and views. You can also get inspired, starting with a hike at Gateway detour.
This is a convenient and scenic road. It is 4.5 miles but you can easily cut it short if needed. I’d say this is a moderate to hard hike at 650 feet.
The McDowell Sonoran Sanctuary offers more than 200 miles of trails in 30,000 acres, and when completed, it will total more than 36,000 acres of permanently protected land, making it larger than the cities of Tempe and Paradise Valley combined and 36 times more times the area of Central Park! See more trails here.
One of the best ways to truly experience the magic of nature is to do it on horseback! MacDonald’s Ranch is the perfect place for all skill levels, especially beginners. The tamed horses are sweet and calm, and you can ride around the farm with experienced, professional fin riders. The property itself is like stepping back in time with lots of activities like petting zoos, gem mines and western kitsch.
Old Town Scottsdale is one of the best places to eat, drink and learn the history of Scottsdale. We explored via Segway! This is my first time going Segway and I love it. I didn’t know it would be this fun! Our tour guide told us the history, recommended restaurants and gave us a great view around the city! We used Scottsdale’s Segway for a 6 mile trip including training.
You have to go to Kierland Commons for the perfect place to shop. During Christmas they light it up with twinkling lights on the palm trees! This is one of my favorite parts just to hang around! This is an urban oasis full of top brands, restaurants and bars.
Some other ideas for outdoor activities are hot air ballooning, kayaking on the salt river, or exploring Desert Botanical Garden – one of my favorite things to do in Scottsdale! See more about What to do in Scottsdale.
Eat
HULA’s Modern Tiki – All right, listen to me. I love Scottsdale for the food, as I said here. But this is probably one of the best restaurants in Scottsdale. Which is actually saying something because I love food. It’s the perfect twist on a classic tiki restaurant with delicious cocktails and an extensive menu. For drinks, I recommend Hula’s Hurricane and Dr. Funk. If you make ANYTHING, get the Crispy Coconut Shrimp with Horseradish Dipping Sauce, and thank me later. I also got the spicy Thai Chicken bowl with sweet potato fries, and wow- a literal explosion of flavors.
Diego Pops – This is the perfect place to chill out with friends or have an overnight date. With a fun and creative menu, you’ll find a different take on Mexican delicacies. With polished metal tables and striking splashes of color in the restaurant, creating a lively and youthful feeling. Try the Brussels-sink-grown nachos, freshly made margarine and taco bowls.
Citizen’s House – This is an upscale and modern restaurant that serves delicious American fare and aged cocktails. We had gravy and bacon popcorn (I’m going to pass this along and eat more gravy!) for appetizers. I ate sea scallops with sweet corn and topped it with whiskey pudding bread! Perfect for a date night.
Hearth ’61 – Not only is the food amazing, but the view is also impeccable. Sit outside and enjoy the sunset with a cocktail or wine. Located in Paradise Valley, you will have beautiful view of purple mountains. The atmosphere, food and service are exceptional.
Farm & Crafts – This fast casual restaurant offers nutritious and delicious food. You’ll find options like anti-inflammatory and stress relievers, perfect for travelers in the middle of their trip! I love the flatbreads!
Original Chop Shop – Literally the best acai bowl I’ve ever had. Honestly, I will go back to Scottsdale just to eat this for breakfast!!
CIELO – Located on the beautiful grounds of ADERO, this farm-to-table restaurant offers a fantastic view of the desert while you enjoy handcrafted cocktails and creative cuisine. This is the best spot to celebrate in style.
Olives and ivy – I love the high ceilings in this Mediterranean restaurant. This is a great place for brunch and I recommend the sweet potato cannelloni or the spicy shrimp risotto. The restaurant also offers 45 different wines by the glass and their famous waffle roll!
CAMPO Italian Pubs and Bars – Led by Award-winning chef James Beard, you’ll find homemade pasta, pizza, craft beer and wine. This cozy and inviting restaurant is cozy and quaint.
Hash Kitchen – The most trusted place with delicious food! You know when a restaurant wants to be cute and picturesque but the food just doesn’t taste good? Not at Hash Kitchen. The food is HUGE and delicious with creative dishes like beignet donuts, hash browns carnitas and creative pancakes. There’s even a DJ booth!
Berdena’s – This is the perfect place to enjoy a quick cup of coffee in a beautiful location. If you’re looking for Instagrammable coffee drinks, look no further!
Stay
Located between Camelback and Mummy Mountains is the appropriate name Mountain Shadows Resort in the Valley of Heaven. The resort is modern and chic but in a very old Hollywood way. The resort originally opened in 1959 and got its name from the shadow cast by the mountain’s shadow every afternoon.
But there’s more to the shadows here than just the mountains. Stars like John Wayne and Elizabeth Taylor have walked these corridors and chilled out by the pool.
Large clean and functional rooms with large showers and stunning views. There is also an 18-hole golf course and multiple swimming pools.
The onsite restaurant, Hearth ’61 I mentioned above, is also top-notch.
If you want to be more in nature then the perfect place in Scottsdale is ADERO! This is an amazing resort that boasts the most amazing views and the opportunity to gaze at the stars.
Located right next to a canyon, ADERO is in the Dark Sky Community with access to 55,000 acres of desert terrain and is perfect for hiking and exploring! There are multiple swimming pools, spas and state-of-the-art fitness centers.
This will be the ideal space for a wedding or a girls trip!
Scottsdale is the perfect getaway to experience the great outdoors and experience some of the best arts in the United States.
